Monday, July 29, 2013

I'm afraid it's nearly impossible to describe how fantastically delicious
1618 Seafood Grille’s brunch is. I would spend every Sunday morning here for
the rest of my life if I could. It’s not as expensive as you might think,
especially if you don’t order a cocktail, but as soon as you read the
mouth-watering descriptions, you'll be ordering one. Nearly everyone in the restaurant was sipping on a yellow or orange drink.

The 1618 Mimosa will just about knock you on your butt.
Clementine Vodka, Ginger Liquor, Fresh Orange Juice and Sparkling Wine give
quite the twist on the traditional brunch favorite. One of these and you’ll be
good for the rest of the day. The Little Brother combines Chipotle Vodka and Bloody
Mary Mix in a Balsamic Reduction-drizzled martini glass, garnished with a slice
of Raw Ahi Tuna, ceviche style, if you will. The acidity of the Bloody Mary Mix and Balsamic Vinegar cook and flavor the tuna ever so slightly, so it’s best to
save that bite until the end. This is spicy and robust – it will wake you up. The
Pamplemosa combines Citrus Vodka, Grapefruit Juice, and Sparkling Wine. This
cocktail is pink, flirty and lovely for summer. The
Day After features Tito’s Vodka, Pickle Juice, Spicy Bloody Mary Mix, freshly
grated Horseradish, Lime Juice and three olives on a skewer. Wonderfully spicy.

Homemade muffins are served with salted butter and
strawberry jam. The seasonal varieties I sampled were Blueberry one morning, and Banana Pecan another. Delightful. After perusing the menu for the 100th time,
I settled on what just might be the most delicious morsel I’ve put into my
mouth all year long: a Buttermilk Chive Biscuit, served open-faced, topped with
Canadian Bacon, Hot Soppressata, a Fried Egg, Avocado Salsa, Grilled Red Pepper
and Havarti Cheese. The flavors are perfect together – the Avocado Salsa cools
your mouth from the salty Soppressata (a spicy salami), and the Fried Egg yolk
runs all over the plate, giving you a chance to use that fluffy biscuit to sop
everything up. My mouth is watering just thinking about it again. This is what
dreams are made of. It is sensational.

The Sweet Potato Biscuit is savory, not too sweet, featuring
notes of Cheddar Cheese. The open faced-biscuit offers three juicy pieces of
perfectly seasoned Pork Tenderloin on a bed of wilted Kale, and is topped
off with a Poached Egg. The other side of the biscuit presents three slices of
tomatoes on a bed of Lingonberry Cream Cheese. This spread is super creamy and
tart, much like the hybrid of a raspberry and a blackberry. It is a perfect
complement to the savoriness of the biscuit.

Alongside these works of art, you have your choice of indulgent
sides. Anything from Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese, to Grilled Asparagus and Cheesy Hollandaise, to my choice – the Cinnamon Roll. Warm and gooey in the middle with notes of lemon, it
was larger than the biscuit, and what we're all looking for in the perfect breakfast
pastry. Or side dish.

The Breakfast Tacos are also not to be missed. After having
several taco varieties at 1618 Wine Lounge, I knew these would be tasty. Plump
Blackened Shrimp, salty Chorizo and fluffy Scrambled Eggs fill grilled Flour
Tortillas, and are topped with shredded Lettuce, Pico de Gallo and Jalapeño
Sour Cream and Manchego Cheese. I missed the heat from the jalapeno, but the cool
cream was much appreciated, and the Manchego was the perfect cheese choice,
bringing wonderful saltiness.

The Potato-Crusted Alaskan Halibut is presented in true 1618
fashion, as all of their dishes tend to be aesthetically pleasing. The juicy
fish is stacked on top of a Bacon, Spinach and Cheese Quiche, with a Deviled
Egg on the top of that, surrounded by Brussels Sprouts that have been sautéed
in Duck Fat and Bacon, drizzled with a Tobasco Cream Sauce that warms the back
of your throat. I think Chef Neal takes everyone’s favorite words and ingredients
and puts them together. Everything he makes is a masterpiece.

I will be back to work my way down the menu, all the way to the Bacon and Eggs Cocktail. Service is spot-on, and it’s
clear that everyone is working together toward a common goal: making the
customer happy, comfortable and blown away. I definitely was.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Zombies are the new vampires. They're everywhere these days. That being said, I didn’t mind “World War Z.” Brad Pitt seems to slide into
the role of “Superdad” fairly easily these days, but the role of “Superhero”
takes a little more effort. As a former UN employee, Brad, as Gerry Lane, is blackmailed
into helping stop a zombie epidemic before the apocalypse occurs. In order to
keep his family safe on a US Navy vessel, Gerry must travel into the unknown and
find a solution. Sounds simple enough. Though it slowed down in the middle, the
crumbs and clues left throughout the film lead to a plausible and riveting conclusion.

Based on the 2006 novel by Max Brooks, “World War Z”
definitely gives you a few jumps and a reason or two to clutch your armrest or
your sweetie. The brief exposition allows you to peek into the comfortable, crave-able
life of Gerry, Karin and their two daughters, in the peaceful suburbs of Philadelphia. Five minutes later, Gerry is
fleeing with the fam through the streets of Philly, running from something...not quite human. His former UN buddies rescue them from the top of an apartment
building in a helicopter and they flee to safety. Of course. We’re watching
this movie because we know the protagonist will life, and surely he has
connections and a plan.

The film quickly turns into "The Brad Pitt Show," as the supporting characters aren't given enough dialogue or arc to really make an impact. Stops in South Korea, Israel and Nova Scotia finally lead
Gerry closer to an answer, all the while dodging somewhat laughable albeit
frightening-looking zombies. The final 20 minutes are pretty interesting and
keep you on the edge of your seat, after Gerry develops a theory about the epidemic and is forced
to test it himself.

This is the type of film that has you checking over your
shoulder when you exit the theatre. The conclusion definitely leaves it open
for a sequel, and I hear there is already one in the works. I will probably see it because honestly, it IS Brad Pitt after all, and seeing his face on the big
screen, if anything, is definitely worth $8.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Indian food is definitely an acquired taste, one I’m very glad I have become accustomed to. I find myself craving the exotic, warm flavors, tender meat and the garlicky, doughy naan. Oh, THE NAAN! Saffron Indian Cuisine
is nicer than I anticipated, with a black and white tile floor, an
orange accented wall and no sign of a grocery store in the back. The lack of
carpet makes for a loud atmosphere, but my dining partner and I quite enjoyed
our evening. Except for one little problem.

When you think Indian food, you think lamb. It’s the most
tender, succulent, flavorful preparation of the meat I’ve ever had.
Unfortunately, my fantasies of sinking my teeth into a tender hunk of the meat
was brought to a startling halt when our server announced that they were OUT.
Come again? It’s as if McDonald’s told me they were out of McNugs. How can an
Indian restaurant be out of lamb at 7:30pm on a Saturday? Perplexed, my dining
partner and I regrouped and perused the menu a bit longer.

The Assorted Vegetarian Platter is a fun way to try a lot of
different items to see what you like. Particularly with foreign cuisine, this is
a safe way to introduce your taste buds to new flavors, in small portions. Samosas
are scrumptious pastries with a curry potato filling, almost like an egg roll.
Aloo Tikki are thin potato croquettes, and Cheese Pakora are fritters, with
notes of chickpea and corn flours. My favorite on the platter were the
Vegetable Paloras - deep-fried veggies, almost tempura-style. The tastiest veggie?
Cauliflower! Totally not what I was expecting. The Mint and Tamarind Chutneys
that accompanied the platter were wonderful and essential; the mint variety is
cool and refreshing, featuring notes of cilantro, versus the Tamarind Chutney’s
tangy and syrupy essence.

Still a little thrown from our denial of lamb, we decided
the Tandoori Mixed Grill would suffice as a second course. Chicken Tikka
features tender chicken on skewers that has been cooked in the famous tandoor
clay oven. Similarly, the Tandoori Chicken is prepared with just a slightly different
marinade. The Tomato Cream sauce that’s served alongside is to die for. The Basmati
Rice with toasted coconut is just asking to be drowned in this sauce
and ladled into my mouth. The Seekh Kebab is definitely for meat lovers,
looking and tasting like sausage. Two Tandoori Shrimp are plump and juicy – I could
have used a few more of those.

We decided that we needed one more dish to round out our
feast. Nargisi Kofta was kind of a blind order. Grated vegetable dumplings are steamed
and served in a velvety, yellow sauce, garnished with dried fruits. The word “fruit”
intrigued us, though it only imparted a slightly sweet flavor. These were
pretty good, but not great. We hated to waste what seemed like a gallon of
sauce for the 5 little dumplings. The servers must have thought we were crazy for
not lapping it up with Naan. Or our spoons.

Besides consoling us for the lack of lamb, the servers were
incredibly attentive with the water refills, which were necessary to cleanse
our palates from all the savory flavors. I need to return to sample their lamb dishes, but otherwise, I was pretty satisfied with my experience. If you’re a curry or Indian food
virgin, ye shan’t be afraid! Go with an experienced diner, and you’ll be a
convert by the end. The more you experiment, the more you’ll fall in love with
it.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Two weeks ago, my mom and I had the pleasure of seeing one
of my favorite bands of all time: Fleetwood Mac. I’ve been a fan of Stevie
Nicks for as long as I can remember – trying to dress, sing and write songs like her as a child – but there
is only one Stevie, the incomparable Ms. Nicks, and she’s definitely still got
it. They rocked the house. Prior to the concert, we treated ourselves to a nice
dinner, to give us energy for all that singing and grooving. After a tasty sip
at Bubble Charlotte, a new champagne bar in the Epicentre, we ventured to BLT Steak. Connected to the Ritz-Carlton, where the Mac was staying, I had my eyes
peeled the entire meal. Save up your bones, because this will cost you a pretty
penny, but it is outstanding. Very NYC.

HOLY POPOVER.

A seasonal drink of Strawberry Juice, Vodka and Lemon-Thyme
Syrup quenched my thirst, but I was more excited by the three humungous
Popovers that arrived to our table. They were the size of my head. Flaky, warm,
with notes of parmesan cheese – I could get used to bread service like this. The Beefsteak Tomato Salad presents three beautifully ripe,
juicy tomatoes, dressed with a Grilled Onion Vinaigrette, Stilton Cheese (Blue
Cheese’s sister) and fresh Basil. This is perfect for summer, especially with
such high-quality, fresh ingredients. I want to try and replicate this in my kitchen.

The entrée special was plenty to share. A Grilled Halibut Filet
is topped with a Green Tomato Salsa, Pattypan Squash and Fried Squash Blossoms.
I had never had squash blossoms, but see them featured all the time on “Iron
Chef,” so I was pleased to finally have a taste myself. The batter was light
and delicious, with a salty, almost juicy bite of the squash inside. The green
tomato salsa was a colorful and fresh addition to the fish, which had a crunchy
exterior, but wasn’t fried. I like that form of preparation.

As a side, Grits & Gorgonzola seemed perfect. Served in
a tiny cast-iron dish, they were creamy, savory, with a flavorful layer of Gorgonzola
on top. I couldn’t wait to dip my spoon into that cheesy crust and ladle them
onto my plate. I may have used my popover to wipe up some of the grits. Shh.

My favorite part of the meal was perhaps the amuse bouche dessert, if
you will. Three bite-sized Mocha Macarons hit the spot – crunchy and flaky on
the outside, with a chewy filling on the inside – how did they know I love to
end my meal with just a little bit of sweetness?

Performing hit after hit - “Second Hand News,” “Landslide,” “Don’t
Stop,” – the Mac is back. All of them except Christine, that is. If you don’t
have the “Rumours” album, I just insist that you get your hands on a copy and
engulf yourself with the magic. It will change you. Now if any of you have
killer popover recipes, send them my way.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Sofia Coppola’s latest flick chronicles the “Bling Ring” robberies that took place between 2008 and 2009 in Los
Angeles. The story surrounds 5 stupid, spoiled teens that allegedly broke into the houses
of Paris Hilton, Rachel Bilson, Lindsay Lohan and the like. It's hilarious that they actually thought they could get away with it. And it's pretty unbelievable how easy they make it look. And, who are these celebrities, not locking their doors? If I had 300 pairs of
Louboutins, 10 Rolexes and miscellaneous furs lying about my pad, I think I’d have a pretty tight security system. Granted, a few of the houses had security
cameras, but not even locking the doors? Nuts.

My jaw was dropped during the entire movie.

New kid at school Marc (Israel Broussard) gets approached by rebellious Rebecca (Katie Chang) and is soon roped into her adrenaline-junkie lifestyle. Breaking into houses, taking Porsches for a spin when the owners are out of
town – it seems Marc will go along with anything just to feel included. He doesn’t seem
to get as much of a rush as Rebecca; he's just happy to have a friend. We
seem to be most sympathetic towards him, being more of an accomplice, and really the
only one with a conscience. In terms of casting, Katie Chang seemed a bit flat.
I was hoping she'd really play up the “HBIC” role (Head Bitch In Charge.)

After discovering Google Maps and Perez Hilton one boring afternoon, Marc and
Rebecca decide to break into Paris Hilton's mansion while she's out of town. (Note - Hilton let Coppola film in her actual house for these scenes.) Enter
friends and fellow partiers Nicki, Sam and Chloe (Emma Watson, Taissa Farmiga
and Claire Julien) who have nothing better to do, and decide to come along. Emma Watson’s character was the
most annoying I’ve seen in a while, though she was supposed to be; Taissa
Farmiga, younger sister of Vera Farmiga, was a super dud (no surprise there), so
my favorite by default was Chloe – typical gangsta white girl. It’s disgusting
how much money these Calabasas kids have.

After a few successful runs at various houses, we’re ready for them to get
caught. We're also curious to see just how far they’ll go. It makes sense that these
celebrities didn’t realize they had items missing – it would be a while before they noticed a few of their 400 bags missing. Ultimately, the kids are busted one by one, and don’t show the slightest
remorse. If anything, they are just sorry they got caught. The E! Network capitalized on the story, and gave Emma Watson’s character a series called “Pretty Wild.”
This show only ran for one season, before she had to go serve 30 days of her one
year sentence.

Leslie Mann is wonderful as the mom who wants so desperately to
have her daughters’ approval, much like Amy Poehler's character in “Mean Girls.” A random cameo by Gavin Rossdale, on the other hand, left me a bit confused. Maybe he
just wanted a few extra dollars since Bush can’t compete with the Harajuku Girls.

“The Bling Ring” is fun, baffling, a bit angering, and has a
great soundtrack. It harkens me back to my days as a senior in high
school – it’s a shame that some of my fashion icons and
role models were Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan, but it’s easy
to understand how obsessive these kids got. America loves to idolize
celebrities, especially since their every move is so accessible to us. It's a bit frightening.

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About Me

Movies and food are two of my biggest passions. For my New Year’s resolution in 2012, I decided to start this blog, reviewing “Cuisine and Screen.”
I love an artsy independent film as much as a summer blockbuster, and “Award Show Season” is my favorite time of year (don’t try calling me the night of the Golden Globes, SAGs or the Oscars.) I miss strolling the aisles of video stores (RIP) and finding gems I missed at the theatres, hidden among thousands of DVDs. I'm excited to write about new movies as well as ones I’ve just seen for the first time.
My Food Network addiction has led to many triumphs (and disasters) in the kitchen. So instead of a recipe blog, I decided to chronicle as many restaurant experiences as my wallet permits.
I hope you find this blog entertaining and informative, and that it gives you some suggestions for your next movie night or special dinner out!